Usually picking up the kids from preschool is pretty tame. I go in, pick up their jackets and back packs and 837 papers from their cubbies, wait for Tess to come out, wait for Cole to come out, and then wrangle them out to the car without losing and/or having anyone get run over out in the parking lot.
But today was odd. One of Tess's teachers was standing in the doorway, as per usual, calling names so the kids could come out to their moms. But when she got to Tess she just kept laughing and laughing. Tess came up to her to get her daily stamp on her hand and her teacher leaned down and asked Tess something. Tess scowled and shook her head and walked out, and her teacher doubled over laughing. So of course I went up to ask what was going on.
Apparently Tess had been denying the existence of her daddy all morning. Adamantly. At the door her teacher had asked her one last time if she had a daddy and found it very amusing that Tess was standing her ground on her no-Daddy position. (I'm just glad that they know that we're not the type family that has to worry about not having a daddy!)
While waiting for Cole she continued to vehemently deny her father's existence. I don't know what you did, Lance, but you've really ticked her off!
Cole's class finally started letting kids out, but after only a couple of kids the fire alarms starting going off, complete with loud sirens and flashing lights. All of the younger siblings who were waiting with their moms started freaking out and howling. (Including Tess, although she was fine once I picked her up.) ((She is getting waaay to big to pick up.))
Well, as luck would have it, this week was FIRE SAFETY WEEK at the preschool. And while this was definitely not a planned drill, the kids and teachers knew what to do! (We parents in the hall, however, were less sure.) The kids all lined up and left the building. A few were a bit scared, and Cole was particularly vocal about wanting his mom, but they all marched outside fairly quickly, with moms in tow.
Outside, where it was raining quite steadily, the kids huddled together as the teachers tried to cover them with their jackets. The moms all rushed to help get their kids into their jackets (including me as I also tried to carry Tess, two backpacks, and 837 papers). There didn't seem to be smoke coming from the building and the alarm had stopped. We heard fire truck sirens in the distance but they never did come to the preschool, much to everyone's dismay. (Because how cool would that have been?!) ((Answer: very.))
It started to rain harder. And harder. And some of the kids started to really freak out. And Tess got heavier and heavier. And no one seemed to know what was going on. Finally, one of Cole's teachers decided to just let us all go home.
Only Cole didn't want to go - he wanted his stamp first! I had to tell him that we had stamps at home and I would give one to him if he would just get out of the rain and into the dang car!
Then Tess realized that he stamp had washed off in the rain. Tears and weeping and wailing. Then Cole decided he wanted his stamp RIGHT THEN. More tears and weeping and wailing.
Once we were finally in the care I asked Tess if she wanted to go have lunch with Daddy, to which she replied "I DON'T HAVE A DADDY!!! WAAAAAAHHHH!!!" And then Cole started laughing. And I did, too. And Tess stopped crying and put on a mischievous grin.
And all was right with the world.
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